Refolding device for manifolding machines



Dec? 1 w. G. BORCHERS REFQLDING DEVICE FOR MANI'FOLDING MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 15 1940 INVENTOR mlgam G. Bore/16m r A, QM, V MA'TTORNEYS Dec. 2, 1941. w, o c E'hs 2,264,469

'REFOLDING DEVICE FOR MANIFOLDING MACHINES Filed May 15, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet? INVENTOR William GT fiorcirers BY 1/ g? I d ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 2, 1941 2,264,469 REFOLDING DEVICE FOR. MANIFOLDING MACHINES 7 William G. Borchers,

Hoboken, N. J assignor to Autographic Register Company, Hoboken, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application May 15, 1940, Serial No. 335,209

10 Claims.

This invention relates to manifolding ma-' chines, and more particularly, to the type in which one of the record-strips is refolded and stored in a record compartment.

In such machines, a plurality of continuous record strips are printed and zigzag folded to make a supply pack. The strips are led overa writing platen where they, are interleaved with transfer material to receive inscriptions which are reproduced on superposed forms. After the forms are written, the strips are advanced by suitable feed mechanism to bring the next set of forms into writing position. The feed mechanism is so constructed that all except the lowermost strip is fed from the machine, so that the written forms may be torn off and distributed as desired. The lowermost strip is directed into a record compartment and is refolded along its original fold lines'to make a pack of record strips which may be removed en bloc from the record compartment for record and auditing purposes.

Considerable difficulty has been experienced in causing the record strip to properly refold in the record compartment along its original fold lines. There are many causes for the trouble-one being that the portions of the record strips which happen to overlie guide rollers in the machine overnight, for instance, take a set or curl so that when they are fed into the record compartment they do not have their normal'tendency to lie fiat and assume their desired shape and condition in a neat zigzag folded pack.

Various means have been suggested for avoiding this difiiculty, which place advancing portions of the record strip in the record compartment in their final positions by positive action. One such means includes a carrying finger associated with the feed mechanism and cooperating special physical paper, so that the portion of the strip which is to be carried down and under the feed mechanism is positively engaged and carried to the proper point during the operation of the feed mechanism. In this proposal, the physical alteraticns in the record strips consist of extra apertures placed in alternate forms so that those portions only of the strip which should be brought under the feed mechanism are engaged by the carrying finger,

An object of the present invention is to provide improved means for positively controlling the record strip and causing proper refolding without, however, requiring the provision of any physical alterations or apertures in the record strips as manufactured.

alterations provided in the.

This is accomplished by the present invention in the form herein illustrated as exemplary'thereof, by the provision of a prick pin, whose operation is so coordinated with the operation of the feed mechanism that during the feeding of the record strip, the latter will be impaled on the pin andwill be carried down under the feed mechanism to proper position. When the record strip has reached the desired position, the impaling pin is withdrawn. The prick pin may be of small diameter, and while it does pierce the record strip, the resulting aperture is slight and does not spoil or detract from the usefulness of the record strip. In fact, the pricking of the recordstrip at predetermined intervals is advantageous, for it indicates that the record strip was run through the manifolding machine, absence of the prick points in the record strip indicating that the record strip was not run through the manifolding machine, thus providing means for the detection of a fraud.

Since the feed mechanism, in the form of the invention herein illustrated, is so constructed that for each revolution of the feed mechanism one form length is advanced, means are providedwhereby the prick pin will operate only during. alternate feeding operations of the forms, and, in order that the machine may be started right, there is a designation provided on the me'cha-- nism operating the prick pin which indicates whether it is in position to operate an odd num-v ber or an even number of forms, that is to say, forms which should be directed under the feed mechanism or forms which should be directed outwardly from the feed mechanism for proper refolding of the record strip.

One of the advantages of the present invention is that it permits the construction of the record compartment without weights and deflectors which heretofore had been employed in an effort to cause therecord. strip to properly refold By omitting these parts from the record compart-' ment, the removal of the zigzag folded pack of record strip material through a door at the top portion of the record compartment is greatly facilitated.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate one form of the invention, that at present preferred,

Figure 1 is a plan view of a manifolding machine with parts thereof cut away to show portions of the inner structure, including the feeding and refolding mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a cross section substantially along the line 2-2 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary cross section substantially along the line 3-3 in Fig, 1 showing means for separating the feed rollers and feed disks for the purpose of threading manifolding material therethrough.

Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are fragmentary cross sections substantially along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, showing various positions of the record strip refolding device of the present invention.

Figs. 7 and 8 are fragmentary cross sections substantially on the line 17 in Fig. l, in the direction of the arrows, showing two positions of means for rendering the refolding device inoperative for each alternate revolution of the feed Fig. 9 is a fragmentary cross section taken substantially along line 9-9 in Fig. 2, showing the mechanism of the refolding device of the present invention as well as the means for rendering the refolding device inoperative for each alter-- nate revolution of the feed disks.

In the exemplifying form of the invention illustrated in the drawings, the manifolding machine is shown as comprising a box-like casing including a bottom wall It], a front end wall II, a rear end wall I2 and side walls l3 and M respectively. Strip feeding mechanism indicated at M divides the interior of the casing into two compartments, one of which is a rear or supply compartment ii? for a zigzag folded pack 16 of manifolding material I 1. The other compartment is a front storage compartment l8 for receiving a record strip to be preserved in the machine. In order to simplify the drawing, the overlying or issue strips are shown in Fig. 1 only at the right-hand end of the inscription space on the top of the manifolding machine, that is, at l'ia. In the present 1 case it is assumed, as will be noted, that there are three of these issue sheets. The lowermost strip to be stored in the compartment l8, constituting the record strip, is separately shown at l'lb below the issue strips Ila, and in the record strip compartment l8 beyond the feeding mechanism. The record strip is refolded into a pile I 9 as shown.

In order to locate the pack l6 properly within the supply compartment l5, and also to assist in locating the pile in the storage compartment I8, there are provided a pair of L-shaped partitions of gauge plates 20, having flanges 23' by which they are secured to the bottom wall l0. The upper edges of these partitions serve as supports for a platen 2|. At its forward end the platen is hinged by pins 22a to. the front ends of a pair of links 22, secured at their rear ends to a rocker rod 23, journalled in vertical bearing plates 24 within the casing, at opposite sides thereof. The rear portion of the platen is cut away to provide a strip-receiving opening 2la. At opposite ends of this opening are integral depending ears Zlb, which rotatably support a number of rollers 25 over which the manifolding strips Ila and I lb are guided for delivery through the opening Zla,

i the outer surfaces of the bearing plates 24, as

passing thence over the platen toward the front end of the machine. A transverse guide rod 25a and transverse horizontal guide plate 26 supported by the hinge plates 30 serve to guide the strip ll to the rollers 25. As will be understood, carbon or transfer strips or sheets [70, may be employed, supported in any of the ways known in the art in interleaved relation with the manifolding material H, to allow manifolding relative to the various strips I! of the pack l6, while a set of form lengths of these strips is properly positioned on the platen for inscription. Successive form lengths of the manifolding material I! are generally marked off by transverse weakened lines along which the strips are zigzag folded in forming the pack l6.

Disposed above the platen 2| is a margin frame 21 having a writing opening 28 and provided at its rear end with hinged plates 29, complementary hinge plates 33 being secured to the rear wall I 2 of the casing. Near its front end, the margin frame 27 carries a housing 32 which is adapted to entirely enclose pressure rollers 34 carried on the roller bar 33 which forms an element of the strip feeding mechanism M. The housing 32 also covers upper reduced extensions 24a of the vertical bearing plates 24 which extensions are slotted vertically to receive the ends of the roller bar 33.

When the platen 2| is in normal or writing position, as shown in Fig. 1, its front edge projects partly over the feeding mechanism M.

This mechanism comprises a crank shaft 35 journalled in the bearing plates 24, and provided at one side of the casing with a manually operable crank, a portion of which is indicated at 35. This shaft, as is shown, carries a disk 31, which constitutes an element of the refolding mechanism of the present invention which will be hereinafter more fully described. The same shaft also carries a number of feeding disks 38a, b, c, and d. The roller bar 33 carries a number of pressure rollers 34 adapted to register with said feeding disks and to cooperate therewith in feeding strips of manifolding material over the platen, one form length of a strip being fed for each revolution of the shaft 35. The roller bar 33 and shaft 35 are geared for cooperative rotation by gears 34a and 35a which are respectively fastened on the ends of said bar and shaft as shown in Fig. 1. The roller bar 33 is journalled in brackets 44 which are supported on the shaft 35 adjacent the bearing plates 24 in such manner as to be vertically slidable within the casing.

The roller bar 33 is urged into engagement with the bearing plates 24.

the feed disks by means of tension springs 45 which are fastened to ears 44a formed on said brackets 44, the other ends of said springs being secured to ears 46 formed at the lower part of The said springs exert a downward force upon the brackets 44 and thereby urge the pressure rollers 34 into engagement with the disks 38.

Means may be provided, if desired, to halt ad- Vance of the manifolding material as each form from the bearing plates length thereof is fed through the feeding means.

Such means are well known in the art and any suitable form thereof may be embodied in the present device.

Means are provided to separate the pressure rollers 34 from the feed disks 38a, b, c, and d in order to facilitate the threading of manifolding material between said rollers and disks. This means comprises a pair of L-shaped levers 5!, one at each end of the feeding means M adjacent the ends of said rod. The rod 52 is journalled in the bearing plates 24 and levers 5i rotate pivotally about the axis of said rod. Pivotal motion of the levers 5| is limited by pins 49, protruding 24 and engaging slots 50 near the free ends of said levers, said slots being arcuate with reference to the axis ofthe rod 52.

The upper edges of thelevers are so formed as to constitute cam surfaces 48, adapted when said levers are raised to engage the reduced ends 330. of the roller bar 33 which protrude beyond the reduced extensions 24a. of the bearing plates 24, lifting the feed rollers out of engagement with the feed disks 38 against the opposing tension of the springs 45, and adapted when said levers are lowered to release the ends of the roller bar. Cam surfaces 48 are so formed that said rollers and disks will be retained in disengaged position without continued application of lifting force to the free ends of said levers. After the manifolding strips have been threaded through the feeding means, levers 5| are lowered,

releasing the roller' bar 33 and allowing the springs 45 to move the rollers 34 into engagement with the feed disks 38.

r The portions of the cam surfaces which support the ends of the roller bar 33 when the levers 5| are raised, are preferably constructed substantially arcuate about the axis of pivotal mo-' tion: of said levers, and the displacement of the roller bar 33 when raised is insuflicient to disengage lgears 34a. and 35a. By virtue of this arrangement initial rotation of the shaft 35 when the feeding means is held in separated position by the cams causes the ends of the roller bar 33 to rotate on the cam surfaces 48, frictionally moving the levers 5| downward until the roller bar 33 is released. Thus, if the operator inadvertently leaves the feed rollers and disks disengaged after threading manifolding strips between them, initial rotation of the feeding means will release the roller bar, and cause the strips to be gripped by the feeding means. The free end of one or both of the levers 5| may be provided with a thumb plate to facilitate manipulation thereof.

Over the storage compartment I8 is a cover plate 48, hinged at 4| to the front end wall H of the casing. The free end of said cover plate is supported on a transverse member 39 which is secured at either end to the vertical bearing plates 24. A look 40a is preferably provided, adapted to engage the said transverse member, and hold the cover 40 closed in order to prevent unauthorized removal of the record strip llb from the compartment I8. A deflector 42 extends across the machine and as here shown is fastened to one side of the transverse member 39. The upper surface 42a. of the deflector 42 slopes upward from thefeeding means M, with its free edge closeto the line of bit between the feed disks 38 and the rollers 34, for guiding the issue strips I'Ia out of the machine during the strip advancing operation. A knife edge 32a is preferably formed at the outer edge of the housing 32 which rests upon the issue sheets Ila as they pass over the surface 42a of the deflector. This arrangement permits manual severing of the issue sheets in form lengths by tearing them along said knife edge in accordance with familiar practice. The lower surface 42b of the deflector 42 is bent downward following the contour of the feed disks 38 in such a manner that the record strip 11b is normally guided thereby toward the front end of the record compartment l8 as the feed disks are rotated. As is well known in the art, the deflector 42 may be cut away above the disks 38a, b, c, and d to avoidcontact therewith as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1; and the lower surface 42b is likewisecut away above the disk 31 as indicated in Fig. 2. 1 "At the front end of the storage compartment l8 atransverse vertical plate 43 is secured in place to the bottom wall III of the casing for positioning the front end of thepile l9 as said pile is built of refolded form lengths of the record strip. The opposite end of the pile l9 builds up adjacent to apositioning device comprising vertical wing portions 28a at the front ends of the gauge plates 20.

Referring'now to the refolding means for the record strip, the disk 31 is mounted by means of a hub 53 on the crank shaft 35 between the feed disks 38b and 380. is interposed between the hub 55 of feed disk 38c and the face of the disk 3'! which urges the hub 53 of the latter into pressure'contact with hubv 54 of disk 38b. The disk 31 is not fastened to the shaft 35, but rotates therewith by virtue of the frictional contact established between the hub 54 of disk 38b and. hub 53 of disk 31. Frictional rotation of disk 31 is also aided bycontact of its outer surface 37a with the record strip l1 as it travels over the feed disks 38.

An impaling deviceis provided on one surface of the disk 3'! to guide a portion of record strip l'lb toward the end of the compartment l8 below the feeding means M. This means comprises a" cylinder 51 fastened by flanges 51a to the lateral surface of disk 31 with the axis of the cylinder disposed radially with respect to said disk. An

impaling pin 58 is carried within the bore of the cylinder 51. The outer end of said impaling pin is sharpened to a fine point as shown, forv instance, in Figs. 4 and 5, in such a manner that it may readily'pierce and impale'a record strip I'ib if projected against the surface thereof. Axial motion of the impaling pin 58 in cylinder 51 is limited by a retaining pin or cam follower 59 which protrudes laterally therefrom through a slot 58 in the side of said cylinder. The limits of the slot 50 are so arranged that the impaling pin 58 is adapted to protrude beyond the edge of the disk 31 just sufficiently to impale a record strip in contact with said outer edge when said pin is projected outwardly in the cylinder 51, and to be retracted within the periphery of said disk to release the impaled strip. .A compression spring 6! positioned within the cylinder 51 behind pin 58, normally urges the impaling pin 58- into said projected position. Thus the pin 58 .is adapted to impale a record strip l 1b as it is fed over the outer edge 31a of the'disk 31 and to release said strip upon subsequent retraction of the pin 58,. after the disk 31 has traveled through a. suitable are. A cam 52, supported by a clamp 53 onthe rocker bar 23, and by an L-shaped bracket 64 which is fastened to trans verse brace 65, supported at each end by the bearing plates 24, is adapted to engage the cam follower 59,, retaining the pin 58 in retracted position during engagement. The cam 62 is so shaped that it releases pin 58 after disk 31 has rotated the impaling device a short distance beyond a position directly above the shaft 35, reengaging the cam follower 59 to retract pin 58 shortly before disk 3'! has moved said impaling device to a position directly below the shaft 35, and retaining the pin 58 retracted as disk 3'! completes one revolution to return said device to its uppermost position.

As a record strip is fed by rotation of the shaft 35, the disk 3'i-rotates frictionally therewith. As

0 the disk 31 reaches the position shown inFig. 4,.-

A compression spring cam 62 releases'thecamfollower 59,. and the spring 6I projects the'impaling pin 58 through the surface of the record strip, where it is pierced and impaled on the end of said pin. As the shaft 35 is rotated further, the record strip is retained by the impaling pin 58, carried downward as shown in Fig. 5, and guided toward the end of the storage compartment I8 beneath the feeding mechanism M. When the disk 31 reaches the position shown in Fig. 6, the lower end of the cam 62 engages the cam follower 59 retracting the impaling pin 58 and releasing the record strip in such a manner that it is deposited below said feeding mechanism. Preferably, the manifolding material is threaded through the feeding means M in such a manner that the impaling pin 58 engages the record strip toward the forward end of one form length thereof, adjacent to a fold which is adapted to be positioned at the end of the record compartment I8, beneath the feeding mechanism. In this way, the record strip is deposited upon retraction of the impaling pin 58 in a position so that it will be refolded in the same zigzag relation which it previously had in the supply pack I6.

As hereinbefore stated, the feeding means is constructed to feed one form length of manifolding material for each revolution of the shaft 35. Since'disk 31 is normally rotated by friction with shaft 35, means must be provided to render the impaling mechanism inoperative for each alternate revolution of the shaft 35 in order to feed alternate form lengths of a record strip toward the end of storage compartment I8 below the feeding means M whereby said strip may be properly refolded. Otherwise the impaling means would operate for each form length of the record strip and guide successive, rather than alternate folds thereof, toward the end of the storage compartment I8 below the feeding mechanism. Such means is shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9. It comprises a pair of clips 66 and 61 diametrically positioned upon the surface of disk 31 opposite the impaling mechanism. The said clips are provided with extensions 66a and 61a extending outward from the surface of the disk 31. Ears 66b and 61b are formed along the lateral edges of the aforesaid extensions to provide stops which engage the end of a link 68, the free end of which is bent up in the form of an ear 68a and the opposite end of which is pivoted at 69 to the transverse braces 65 which also supports the cam 62. Link 68 is supported by the rod 52 which connects the levers of the roller-separating mechanism. In its normal position, as shown in Fig. '1, the link 68 engages the ears 66b or 611) of the clips 66 or 61 and prevents rotation of the disk 31 when the shaft 35 is rotated. A pin 10 protruding from the surface of the feed disk 38b is adapted to slide past the ears 66b and 611), but to engage the link 68, raising it out of engagement with the car 6617 or 611) when the disk 38b is rotated, as shown in Fig. 8, allowing disk 31 to rotate once more with the shaft 35. Before disk 31 has completed a half revolution, pin 16 releases link 68, allowing it to fall back into position and engage the next ear 611) or 6617 when disk 31 completes a half revolution. During the succeeding half revolution of the shaft 35, disk 31 is held stationary until pin 10 again raises link 68 and the operation is repeated.

Assuming disk 31 to be held stationary by engagement of the link 68 with ear 61b as shown in Fig. 1, the shaft 35 and disk 38b is rotated clockwise. After pin 10 raises the link 68 out of engagement with the ear 6Tb, as shown in Fig. 8, disk 31 rotates with the shaft 35 by virtue of frictional engagement of hubs 53 and 54. Before said shaft completes a half revolution, pin 10 has released link 68, allowing it to drop back into the position shown in Fig. 7. Thus, when disk 31 has completed a half revolution, the ear 66b has moved into the position formerly occupied by ear 6112 as shown in Fig. 1, engaging link 68 and arresting rotation of said disk during the succeeding half revolution of shaft 35. When disk 38b and shaft 35 have completed a full revolution, pin 10 again raises clip 68 and permits disk 31 to perform another half revolution in unison with the shaft.

One of the clips 66 or 61, for instance clip 66, is disposed opposite the same point on the periphery of the disk 31 as the impaling mechanism shown in Figs. 4 to 6 inclusive. Thus, motion of the disk 31 for one half revolution is initiated when the impaling device is in its uppermost position, directly above shaft 35, just before pin 58 is released by the cam 62 in order to impale and pierce the record strip I 11) positioned above it. As the disk 31 completes the said half revolution, the impaling device performs its guiding function and is retracted by cam 62 to release the record strip just before reaching its lowermost position below shaft 35. During the succeeding half revolution of disk 31, the impaling pin is continuously held in retracted position by the cam 62, as will be readily understood by referring to Figs. 4 to 6 inclusive.

In order to facilitate adjustment of the machine so that the record strip may be positioned in the feeding means in such a manner that the forward ends of the alternate form lengths which are to be positioned below the feeding mechanism will be engaged by the refolding device, clips 66 and 61 are preferably provided with ears 66c and 610, bearing marks or indicia visible from above to show whether the impaling device is about to operate or to remain inoperative during the succeeding half revolution of the disk 31.

In order to prepare the manifolding machine for'operation, the platen 2I and margin plate 21 are first raised and a pack of zigzag folded manifolding material I6 is placed in the storage compartment I5. The separate strips thereof are threaded over the guide bar 26a and between the rollers 25. Transfer sheets I1a are interleaved with the separate strips, and the ends of the strips are drawn over the platen 2| to its delivery end.

Before threading the strips through the feeding means, it is first observed whether the first fold in the strip is such that the free end of the record strip should be fed to the end of the record compartment below the feeding mechanism M, or to the forward end thereof adjacent the front end wall II. In order to permit the zigzag pile I9 of record strips to lie flat in the record storing compartment, the forward ends of successive form lengths of the strip must be directed by the feeding and refolding mechanism alternately to opposite ends of the storing compartment, so that the successive transverse folds in the pile l9 occur in the same direction as in the pile I6 in the supply compartment. The refolding mechanism must, therefore, be in the correct position with respect to the first form length to be fed, or with respect to the first transverse fold in the record strip, so that successive form lengths will be correctly guided.

For instance, if the first fold in the pile I6 is adjacent the rear end wall 12, the strip should be fed so that the first fold of the record strip will fall adjacent the front end wall ll of the casing in the record storage compartment l8 after leaving the feeding means M. Hence, the free end of the record strip must be engaged .by the refolding device and deposited under the feeding means in the record storage compartment. For this purpose, the shaft 35 is rotated until indicator 660 is on top of the disk 31, showing that the impaling mechanism is similarly positioned. Shaft 35 is further rotated until pin 10 on feed disk 38b has contacted link 68 and is therefore about to release ear 61b or until the latter has just been released by said link. This adjustment may be made by rotating shaft 35 until a slight resistance to further rotation is felt by reason of contact of the pin 10 with the link 68, or until a slight forward movement of the disk 31 and indicator 660 is noticed, showing that ear 612) has been released. The platen is then lowered into position. The cover of the storage compartment is raised, and the feed rollers 34 separated from the feed disks 38 by manually raising the lever 5|. The free edges of the strips are first aligned with each other and then inserted between the feeding disks and rollers, the ends of the issue strips l'la being threaded over the upper surface 42a of the deflector 42 and the record strip I'lb threaded between the outer edges of the said disks 38 and the undersurface 42b of the deflector plate. Preferably, the ends of the issue strips are positioned to coincide with the knife edge 32a of the housing 32. The separating levers 5| are then released, clamping the strips between the feed disks and rollers. The margin plate 27 and cover 45 are lowered into position and the latter is preferably locked.

After inscription of the first form length of the strips which is positioned above the platen, the shaft 35 is rotated until the first fold of the strips is aligned with the knife edge 32a, bringing the second form length of the record strips into position above the platen for inscription. The issue sheets Ila of the first form length are fed outward thereby over the deflector surface 42a and may be separated by tearing along the knife edge.

The first form length of the record sheet is fed below the deflector surface 42b into the record storage compartment l8. As the impaling mechanism was originally positioned at the top of disk 31, the latter rotates forward with shaft 35 upon initial feeding of the strip, until the cam follower 59 is released bythe cam 62. The impalingpin 58 is then projectedoutward by the spring 5!, piercing and impaling the record sheet near its forward end as shown in Fig. 4. As rotation of shaft 35 continues, the impaled end of the record strip is carried around with the disk 31 as shown in Fig. 5 and thus guided toward the end of the storage compartment l8 below the feeding mechanism M. As the disk 31 reaches the position shown in Fig. 6, cam 62 once more engages cam follower 59, retracting the pin 58, releasing the end of the record strip, and depositing it at the aforesaid end of the storage compartment.

Meanwhile, feed disk 38b has rotated sufficiently to permit pin 10 to allow link 68 to fall back into its original position. Thus, as shaft 35 completes a half revolution, and as the impaling devicereaches its lower position directly below the shaft ,35, rotation of the disk 31 is arrested by engagement of link 18 with ear 661). Disk 31 is thus held stationary during the latter half of the first feeding revolution of the shaft 35.

After inscription of the second form length of the manifolding strip I! which is positioned above the platen 2| the shaft 35 is again rotated. At the beginning of the rotation, pin 10 again raises link 68, releasing car 661) and permitting disk 31 to perform a half revolution together with the shaft 35. As it will be readily seen by reference to Fig. 6, cam 62 retains the impaling pin 58 in retracted position and when the impaling device reaches its topmost position above the shaft 35, motion of the disk 31 is once more arrested by link 68 and held stationary during the latter half of the feeding revolution of said shaft. Thus, the impaling pin is inoperative as, the second form length of the record strip is fed into the storage compartment and the forward end of said form length is directed by means of the deflector plate 42 toward the front end wall H of the storage compartment l8.

As the third form length of the strip is advanced through the feeding mechanism, the refolding device functions as in the case of the first form length, engaging the third form length of the record strip at its forward end and guiding it toward the end of the storage compartment below the feeding mechanism.

If the position of the supply pile I 6 in the supply compartment I5 is reversed so that the first fold of the strip in the pile is adjacent to the forward end of said compartment, the refolding device is first adjusted so that the impaling pin 58 is in its lowermost position directly below the shaft 35 and indicator 610 being at the top. The feeding mechanism is again rotated until pin 10 has just contacted or released link 68. The ends of the strip I! are then threaded through the feeding rollers and disks as hereinbefore described. Operation of the feeding mechanism causes the deflector plate 42 to feed the free end of the record strip toward the forward end of the record strip compartment, since the refolding device is inoperative to impale the first form length thereof during the feeding operation. The refolding device then becomes operative as the second form length of the record strip is fed into the storage compartment, positioning the first fold of said record strip beneath the feeding means as will be apparent from the foregoing description. Subsequent operation of the device continues as hereinbefore described.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of this invention and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

I claim: p

1. A manifolding machine having supply and record storing compartments and a platen over which a plurality of zigzag folded continuous strips is advanced, one of said strips being a record strip and being fed into said record com partment; means for advancing said strips by form-length intervals including a rotary shaft, feed disks mounted for rotation with said shaft and a roll cooperating therewith to provide a feeding grip engaging said strip; means cooperating with said feed disks to direct the record strip into said storing compartment; and refolding means including a member mounted upon said shaft to rotate frictionally therewith, a piercing and impaling member mounted upon said frictionally rotating member for radial projection and retraction with respect thereto through the surface of the record strip as it passes over the feed disks, means for projecting said piercing'm'ember through said record strip shortly after the latter leaves the grip of the feeding means, a cam for retracting said piercing member after ithas been rotated to a position in which the impaled portion of the record strip is positioned below the feeding mechanism, and for retaining said piercing member in retracted position until it reaches the position below the portion of the record strip issuing from the grip of the feeding means, and means for arresting rotation of the frictionally rotating member and releasing said member in timed relation with the feeding of the record strip such that the said rotary member rotates only during one half of the feeding 'of each form length of said strip, the said cam being so arranged that the piercing member is projected during alternate continuous operations of said rotary member.

2. In a manifolding machine having supply and record storing compartments and a platen over which a plurality of zigzag folded continuous strips is advanced, one of said strips being a record strip and being fed into said record compartment, a feeding means comprising a rotary shaft, feed disks mounted thereon and pressure rollers cooperating with said feed disks for gripping said continuous strips and advancing said strips by form-length intervals, one revolution of said shaft corresponding to advancement of one form-length interval of said strip; a deflector adjacent the bite of said feeding means cooperating with the feed disks for directing said record strip toward the end of said record compartment away from said feeding means; refolding means comprising a rotary member mounted for frictional rotation with said shaft; a piercing and impaling pin carried by said rotary member; resilient means normally urging said pin into projected position in which it is adapted to pierce the surface of said record strip and impale said strip as the latter passes between the deflector and feed disks; a cam for releasing said pin to pierce and impale said record strip after it has moved past the bite of said feeding means and is adjacent said deflector plate, and for retracting said pin as it approaches a position directly opposite the bite of said feeding means whereby the impaled strip is released and deposited in the end of the record storage compartment adjacent said feeding means, upon rotation of said frietionally rotatable member with said shaft; means for arresting motion of said rotary member when said pin reaches a position directly adjacent the bite of said feeding means and also when said pin reaches a position directly opposite the bite of said feeding means; and means operated by rotation of the shaft, once for each revolution thereof, for releasing said arresting means and permitting said rotary member to perform a half revolution in unison with the rotary shaft, said releasing means being so timed that the projection and retraction of said pin occurs during the same half-revolution of said rotary member.

3. In a manifolding machine having rotary feeding means including a rotaryshaft, for feeding a plurality of continuous zigzag folded strips over a platen, one of said strips being a record strip, directing means cooperating with said feeding means to guide said strip to one desired position, and a rotary member rotated by the shaft of said feeding means for guiding said record strip to another position, continuous operation of said rotary member by said shaft being timed to encase each successive form length of said record strip and to retain said form length in engage- 'ment during less than half of each form-length feeding operation, means for timing operation of said rotary member to engage each alternate form length of said record strip, comprising means for causing said member to rotate frictionally with said shaft; means for arresting motion of said rotary member during the feeding of one half of each successive form length of each strip; and means for releasing said rotary member to permit it to rotate in unison with said feeding means during the feeding of the other half of each successive form length of each record strip, the stripengaging operation of said rotary guiding means being restricted to one of its alternate rotary movements.

4. A manifolding machine as defined in claim 3', in'which the rotary member is provided with a plurality'of indicating means disposed thereon at angularly spaced intervals corresponding to the angular displacement of said member during each periodic rotation thereof in unison with the rotary shaft, and bearing alternate indicia for indicating, while motion of said member is arrested, whether or not said record strip is about to be engaged during the succeeding rotary move ment of said member.

5. In a manifolding machine having feeding means for feeding a plurality of zigzag folded strips over a platen, one of said strips being a record strip, directing means cooperating with said feeding means to guide said record strip to one desired position; a member intermittently operated in unison with said feeding means for engaging and guiding said record strip to another position, said member engaging alternate form lengths of said record strip and retaining the said form lengths in engagement during less than half of a form-length feeding operation; and means for timing operation of said member to engage each alternate form length of said record strip and to remain inoperative during the feeding of the other alternate form lengths, comprising means for arresting unison operation of said member during half of each form-length feeding operation of the feeding means and for rendering said member operative during the" other half of each form-length feeding operation, engagement of the record strip by said member being restricted to one of its alternate operative periods.

6. In a manifolding machine having feeding means for feeding a plurality of zigzag folded strips over a platen,'one of said strips being a record strip, directing means cooperating with said feeding means to guide said strip to one desired position; a refolding member intermittently operated in unison with said folding means; impaling means carried by said member for engaging a portion of said record strip and guiding it to another position; means rendering said impaling means operative to engage corresponding portions of alternate record strip form lengths and to release them within less than half of a form-length feeding operation after said strip has been guided to the last-named position; and means for timing the operation of the refoldi-ng member to impale alternate form lengths of said record strip, and to remain inoperative during the feeding of the other alternate form lengths thereof, comprising means for arresting unison operation of said refolding member during half .of each form-length feeding operation of the feeding means and for rendering said member operative during the other half of each form-length feeding operation, engagement of the record strip by said impaling means being restricted to one of the alternate operative periods of said refolding member.

'7. In a manifolding machine having supply and record storage compartments and a platen over which a plurality of zigzag folded continuous strips are advanced, one of said strips being a record strip and being fed into said record storage compartment, feeding means comprising a rotary shaft for advancing said strip by formlength intervals over said platen; means for directing said record strip into the record storage compartment toward the far end of the latter; refolding means comprising a rotary member mounted for intermittent rotation in unison with said shaft; a record strip-engaging member carried by said rotary member; means for rendering said strip-engaging member operative to engage the forward end of a record strip form length as it enters said storage compartment, incident to rotation of said feeding means, and for releasing said strip from said engagement within less than half of a form-length feeding operation, release of said strip depositing the engaged end thereof in said compartment below said feeding means; and means for timing the operation of said stripengaging member to engage each alternate record strip form length and to remain inoperative during the feeding of the other alternate form lengths thereof, comprising means for arresting unison rotation of said rotary member during half of each form-length feeding operation and for rendering said member operative to rotate in unison with said shaft during the other half of each form-length feeding operation, engagement of the record strip being restricted to one of the alternate periodic rotations of said rotary member.

8. In a manifolding machine having feeding means for advancing a zigzag folded record strip, with fold lines at form-length intervals, over a platen and into a storage compartment extending rearwardly from said feeding means, said record strip being normally directed toward the rear end of said storage compartment during operation of the feeding means, a refolding member intermittently operated in unison with said feeding means; means carried by said refolding member for engaging said record strip at longitudinally spaced points as it issues from the feeding means and guiding the engaged portions toward the forward end of said storage compartment adjacent the feeding means; means for timing the operation of said strip-engaging member to engage the same portion of each alternate form length comprising releasable stop means for arresting unison operation of the refolding member successively at each of a pair of spaced positions in its travel corresponding to a form-feeding operation of the feeding means, said strip-engaging means being positioned adjacent the bite of the feeding means when the refolding member is arrested in alternate spaced positions; means operated at the same point in each form-feeding operation by the feeding means for releasing said stop means to permit unison operation of the refolding member to the succeeding stop position; and means for rendering said strip-engaging means operative only during the alternate intervals of travel of said refolding means between stop positions following the arrest of unison operation of the refolding member at which the strip-engaging means is adjacent the bite of the strip-engaging means, said means also releasing the strip from the strip-engaging means before each of said alternate operative intervals is complete, and said strip-engaging means remaining inoperative thereafter and throughout the succeeding interwith fold lines at form-length intervals, over a platen and into a strip compartment extending rearwardly from below said feeding means, said record strip being normally directed during operation of the feeding means toward the rear end of said storage compartment, a refolding member intermittently rotated in unison with said feeding means; a strip-engaging means carried by said member and rotated therewith for engaging a portion of said record strip as it issues from the feeding means and guiding, the engaged portion toward the forward end of the storage compartment below said feeding means; means for timing operation of said strip-engaging member to engage the same portion of each alternate form length of said record strip for guiding it to the said position, comprising a releasable stop means for arresting said unison rotation of the refolding member alternately in a pair of angularly spaced positions in each revolution thereof; means operated by the feeding means for releasing said stop means at the same point in each revolution of the feeding means to permit unison rotation of the refolding member to the next stop position, the strip-engaging member being positioned adjacent the bite of the feeding means when one of said angularly spaced stop means is engaged; and means for rendering the strip-engaging means operative only during the alternative rotative intervals of said refolding member following release of the last-named stop means, said means releasing the strip from said strip-engaging means before each of said alternate intervals of motion is complete, and said strip-engaging means remaining inoperative thereafter and throughout the succeeding alternate rotative intervals of said refolding member.

10. In a manifolding machine having a rotary feeding means for advancing, by a form length for each revolution, a zigzag folded record strip with fold lines at form-length intervals, over a platen and into a storage compartment extending rearwardly from below said feeding means, said record strip being normally directed during operation of the feeding means toward the rear end of said storage compartment, a refolding member frictionally coupled with said feeding means for rotation in unison therewith; a stripengaging means carried by said refolding member and rotated therewith for engaging a portion of the record strip as it issues from the feeding means and guiding the engaged portion toward the forward end of the storage compartment below said feeding means; meansfor timing operation of said strip-engaging member to engage the same portion of each alternate form length for guiding it to said position, comprising a fixed stop means; a pair of angularly spaced stop means carried by said refolding member, cooperating alternately with the fixed stop means for arresting unison rotation of the refolding member twice in each revolution thereof, said frictional coupling slipping to permit continued rotation of the feeding means while rotation of the refolding member is arrested; means rotated with the feeding means for releasing either of said 'angularly tion of the feeding means to permit resumption of unison rotation of the refolding member to the next stop position, said strip-engaging member being positioned adjacent the bite of the feeding means upon engagement of one of said angula'rly spaced stop means with the fixed stop means; and means for rendering the strip-en- 10 w gaging means operative only during alternate rotative intervals of said refolding member following release of the last-named stop means, said means releasing the strip from said strip-engaging means before completion of each of said alternate rotative intervals, and said strip-engaging means remaining inoperative thereafter and throughout the succeeding alternate rotative intervals of said refolding member.

' WILLIAM G. BORCHERS. 

